Pallet construction

ABSTRACT

A pallet which may also serve as a load divider formed of a frame fabricated from sheet material to define hollow edge beams, end beams and hollow intermediate beams, the edge and intermediate beams being adapted to receive the tines of a forklift truck, and the opposite faces of the frame being covered by smooth panels so that the pallet is reversible. Pins, secured in the corners of the pallet, project beyond the ends thereof to support the pallet in tracks. Open sockets may be provided in the edge beams at the corners of the pallet to receive posts by which the pallets can be stacked or to receive casters.

United States Patent I l 1 1 I 1 I 1 Inventors Russell M. Loomis Palos Heights;

Henry D. Breen, Chicago, both of, 111. 729,080

May 14, 1968 July 20, 1971 Unarco Industries, Inc. Continuation-impart 01 application Ser. No. 612,611, Jan. 30,1967, now Patent No. 3,477,392, Continuation-impart of application Ser. No. 615,139, Feb. 10,

AppL No. Filed Patented Assignee Primary ExaminerDrayton E. Hoffman Attorney-Norman Lettvin ABSTRACT: A pallet which may also serve as a load divider formed of a frame fabricated from sheet material to define hollow edge beams, end beams and hollow intermediate beams, the edge and intermediate beams being adapted to receive the tines of a forklift truck, and the opposite faces of the frame being covered by smooth panels so that the pallet is reversible. Pins, secured in the comers of the pallet, project beyond the ends thereof to support the pallet in tracks. Open sockets may be provided in the edge beams at the corners of the pallet to receive posts by which the pallets can be stacked or to receive casters.

22 ikia PATENTED M20 Ian sum 3 [1F 4 78 22 ,zu/nionsz' Russell W1, Loovuls D ,Breen PALLET CONSTRUCTION BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION This invention relates to pallet constructions, and more particularly to a pallet, or panel, of the type which can be supported in a lading space, such as in a railroad car, on spaced tracks to support lading in the space or divide the lading space into compartments.

, In the said copending applications, it is proposed to provide pallets, or panels, having pins or-similar supporting members projecting from their ends to engage supporting and locking tracks in a railroad car or similar lading space, and which pallets are also constructed to receive the tines of conventional forklift trucks for handling. The present invention relates to improvements in pallets, or panels of this type and has for one of its objects the provision of a panel, or pallet, which is relatively inexpensive to construct, which is relatively light in weight but which isextremely strong and rugged and provides maximum flexibility of use.

Anotherobject is to provide a pallet construction which is formed of a frame made up of simple sheet metal shapes, such as channels, or beams, and covered on its opposite sides by covering sheets, or panels, and which is reversible in use.

According to a feature of the invention, the frame includes hollow beams fabricated of sheet metal which are open at their ends to receive the tines of a forklift truck. Reinforcing means are preferably provided at the open ends of the beams through which the forks tines may extend.

According to another feature of the invention, closed-end sockets are provided in the central portion of the panel faces, preferably formed by double-channel strips, to receive the tips of the-forklift tines for handling the pallet in a vertical position and which prevent the tine tips from passing through the entire thickness of the pallet.

A further object of the invention is to provide a pallet construction in which the frame is formed with sockets at its corners to receive stacking posts which may be telescoped into the sockets by means of which pallets can be stacked, one above the other, in use. These sockets may also receive the pins of removable casters. Preferably the face coverings are cut away at the corners of the pallets to expose the sockets.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS In.thecourse of the description, the drawings will frequently be referred to in which:

FIG. I is a side elevation view of a railroad car'lading space showing a car construction adapted to utilize pallets of the type embodying the instant invention;

FIG. 2 is a cross-sectional view of the lading space taken substantially on line'Z-Z of FIG. 1;

FIG. 3 is a plan view, with portions broken away, of a pallet constructed in accord with the principles of this invention; FIG. 4 is an end elevation view ofthe pallet of FIG. 3;

FIG. 5 is an edge, or side elevation view ofthe pallet of FIG.

FIG. 6 is an enlarged fragmentary plan view showing details ofthe corner construction of the pallet of FIG. 3;

FIG. 7 is an edge elevational view of the corner seen in FIG.

FIG. 8 is an enlarged cross-sectional view taken substantially along line 88 of FIG. 3;

FIG. 9 is a fragmentary plan view of a pallet embodying a modified construction following the principles of my invention with the pallet covering removed;

FIG. 10 is an enlarged crosssectional view taken substantially on line l0-10 of FIG. 9 with the pallet covering in place; FIG. 11 is an isometric fragmentary view of the intermediate beam of the pallet of FIG. 9;

FIG. 12 is a fragmentary plan view of a second preferred embodiment of pallet with the pallet covering removed;

FIG. 13 is an end elevation view ofthe pallet of FIG. 12; and

FIG. 14 is a fragmentary edge, or side, elevation view of the pallet of FIG. I2.

DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS Pallets constructed in accordance with the principles of my invention are adapted to be installed :in a lading space such as in a railway car as shown in FIGS. 1 and 2. The pallets 10 are adapted to be supported by one or more tracks 12 carried on the inner walls 14 of the car. The pallets may be arranged either horizontally or vertically, as desired, in the Iading space for supporting the cargo or dividing the space into compartments.

A plurality of spaced notches 16 are provided in each of the tracks 12 adapted to receive therein headed studs or pins, extending outwardly of the pallet, so as to prevent shifting of the pallets and so as to selectively position the pallets in the lading space. I

Referring to FIGS. 38, one preferred embodiment of a pallet is formed of a rectangular frame having two long edge beams and two shorter end beams that define the outer periphery and are constructed of fabricated shapes of sheet material, such as sheet metal. As shown in FIG. 3, the pallet 10 comprises two edge beams indicated generally at 18, extending along the opposite long edges of the pallet. As best seen in FIG. 4, each edge beam is substantially hollow and is defined by a pair of relatively hollow sheet metal channels 20 mounted in spaced relation with their webs 22 lying parallel to the opposite load-support faces of the pallet and with the open channels thereof defined by flanges 24 facing each other. The channels 20 are held in spaced relation by an upright divider channel strip 26, the web 28 of strip 26 extending perpendicular to the webs 22 of the channels 20 and the flanges 30 thereof secured to the webs 22 of the channels 20, as by welding. One or more tie plates 31 may be welded between the innermost flanges 24 of a pair of channels 20 at positions where they will not obstruct use of the tine of a forklift truck as hereinafter described. Each of the completed edge beams 18 will thus be seen to provide a substantially hollow inner beam section 32 that extends parallel to the length of the longitudinal edge of the pallet frame and lies inwardly of divider strip 26. Each beam 18 also defines an out-er beam section 34 that lies outwardly of the divider strip 26 at the extreme longitudinal edges of the frame. The ends of channels 20 of edge beams 18 are joined at the ends of the frame by end crossbeams 36 which may be formed of plates, channel-section members, or could if desired, be box beams. The end beams 36 are secured at their ends to the edge beams 18 as by welding. As shown in the drawings, the end beams 36 are formed of open channel members, the flanges 24 of the edge beams 18 being cut away at the extreme ends thereof so that the web 22 of each of the edge beams 18 may extend onto the flanges 39 of each of the end beams 36 before being welded thereto for the sake of greater strength and rigidity. The combination of edge beams 18 and end beams 36 thus defines a rectangular frame.

Spaced intermediate and parallel to the end beams 36 are a pair of intermediate crossbeams each joined to the edge beams 18. As best seen in FIGS. 3 and 5, each intermediate beam 40 is formed by a pair of spaced channel members 42 having webs 44 vertical or perpendicular to the faces of the pallet and having flanges 46 lying parallel to the webs 22 of the edge beams 18. Channel members 42 are spaced apart a distance to allow the accommodation of the tines of the fork ofa conventional forklift truck between the webs of channels 42 in space 48 so that the pallet can be lifted and handled by the fork. in this respect the spacing between the axes of the spaces 48 of the intermediate beams 40 is substantially equal to the spacing between the axes of the inner beam sections 32 of the edge beams 18 which are also adapted to receive the tines of such a fork. This spacing is substantially equal to the spacing of the tines ofa standard forklift truck.

in order that the fork tines can enter the spaces 48 defined between the intermediate beams 40, the flanges 24 of the edge beam channels 20, at the inner and outer edges thereof, are spaced apart a sufficient distance to accept the tines, and the web 28 of divider strip 26 is formed with openings 50 therethrough which register with the longitudinal axis of the space 48 between the intermediate beams. Preferably, the web 28 of divider strip 26 is reinforced around the openings 50 by reinforcing strips, or plates, 52 which will assist the divider strip 26 in taking the strain imposed by lifting a loaded pallet with the fork tines. v

Similarly the end beams 36 have formed in their webs 38 openings 60 which are aligned with the inner beam sections 32 of the edge beams 18. Openings 60 are of a size to receive the tines such that they will be engaged by the tines to take at least a part of the strain imposed by lifting a loaded pallet from the ends of the pallet.

With the construction as so far described, it will be seen that the elongated tines of the fork of a conventional forklift truck can be inserted longitudinally either within spaces 48 defined by the intermediate crossbcams 40 or into the open inner beam sections 32 of the edge beams 18 to pick up the pallet and transport it either from the ends or from the side edges of the pallet. In either case the tines are received in substantially hollow beam members which are reinforced at the points of maximum strain so that the pallet can safely be used to handle substantial loads. lf it is desired to further reinforce either the openings 50 in divider strip 26 or the openings 60 in the end beams 36, the sheet metal may be curled back about the edges of the openings when the openings are formed.

To complete the pallet, the frame is covered in its opposite faces by covering sheets, or plates, 62 and 63 may be formed of plywood, plastic or metal, as desired. The sheets, or plates are secured around their edges to the frame by fastenings 64, which may be rivets, screws, or other desired types of fastenings, such as mastic. Except for the two relatively small openings on each side for the tine sockets, which will now be described, when the covering sheets 62 and 63 are in place, the pallet has smooth, continuous faces on its opposite sides so that it can be used reversibly and with different types of products, including relatively small pieces or packages.

In order to permit the handling and positioning of the pallet when the pallet is to be located in its upright load-divider position, closed endedsockets are formed in the faces of the pallet. As shown in HO. 8, one embodiment of socket includes a sinuous strip 66 of a modified S-shape, having cross segments 67, 68 and 69 and two end segments 70 and 71. The segments 68, 69 and 71 form one tine socket opening through the cover sheet 62 at 73 and segments 67, 68 and 70 define a second tine socket opening in the opposite direction through cover sheet 63 at 74. Two such strips 66 are provided and each of the strips are mounted, as by welding to the side of each of the intermediate beams 40. The strips 66 are mounted with the socket opening facing outwardly toward the faces of the pallet. and are of sufficient depth to receive only the tips of the fork tines so that the pallet can be picked up and moved in a vertical position by a forklift truck. The segments 67, 68 and 69 of the sockets are preferably sloped, as shown in FIG. 8, and as the tine tips support the pallet, the pallet tends to tilt slightly so that the pallet will be retained more securely on the tines. The closed ends ofthe sockets provided by the segments 70 and 71 of strip 66 prevent the tines from projecting entirely through the pallet where they might damage lading already positioned in the lading space, during the placement of the pallet in a vertical load-divider position.

A second embodiment of socket construction for receiving the tips ofthe fork lift tines, is shown in FIGS. 911 in which like reference numerals are used for like elements. In thisembodiment, the sockets are formed in a sidc-by-side arrangement offset from each othcrand located between the webs of the intermediate beams 76. The intermediate beams 76, rather than being formed by a pair of shallow channels having equal length flanges in the previously described embodiment, are formed by a pair of channels having different length flanges, more specifically a long flange 77 and a short flange 78. The open channels face each other and the edge of each short flange 78 abuts the edge of each long flange 77 to form a beam having a box-shaped cross section. An elongated aperture 79 is formed in each of the long flanges 77 to provide the socket openings, the axis of each of the apertures 79 being generally perpendicular to the axis of the intermediate beam. The cover sheet 62 and 63on each face of the pallet also carries apertures 82, each aligning with their associated apertures 79 in the beam flanges. When the tip of the tine, asshown by the dotted outline in FIG. 10, is inserted into the socket, it will not pass through the thickness of the pallet since a parteach of the long flange 77 and short flange 78 forming the face of the intermediate beam 76 opposite the opening through which the tine is inserted will block its passage.

in order to support the pallet on the tracks in lading space, pins 84 are provided which project from the corners of the pallet beyond its ends. As best seen in FIG. 6, the pins 84 lie outwardly of the divider strips 26, i.e., in alignment with section 34 of beam 18. The pins 84 are secured, as by welding, to the web 28 of divider strip 26 and to the end beams 36. The pins 84 are preferably formed with enlarged heads 86 at their outer ends distally of the pallets framework to cooperate with the notches 16 in tracks 12 in the lading space, as more specifically disclosed and claimed in the copending application of Bezlaj et al., Ser. No. 612,610, filed Jan. 30, 1967.

It is desirable at times to stack pallets of the type here disclosed, through the use of stacking pins, or rods, so that the pallets themselves can serve in lieu of a rack. For this purpose the covering plates, or sheets, 62 and 63 are cut away at the corners of the pallet, as indicated at 88, and open ended sockets 90 are secured in the corner portions of the frame, as shown in FIGS. 6 and 7. These sockets can be in the form of tubes open at their ends and opening through registering openings in the flanges 39 of the end beams 36. The tubes lie closely adjacent to the pins 84 at the outer sides thereof and are preferably welded at their ends to the flanges 39 of the end beams 36 where they not only are supported by the flanges 39 but serve to also assist in reinforcing the end beam flanges themselves. With this construction, when it is desired to stack pallets, stacking posts or pins 92, as shown in FIG. 8, may be telescoped into each of the sockets 90 to connect successive pallets and support them in the desired spaced stacked relationship to each other. The sockets 90 may also be utilized to mount casters 94 for rollably supporting the pallet and render the pallet easily movable about the floor. As also shown in FIG. 8, the pin 96 of the caster, which may include a springloaded detent 98, is merely inserted in the socket 90.

Referring to FIGS. 12-14, a second embodiment of pallet constructed in accordance with the principles of my invention is shown. This pallet differs from the previously described pallet construction principally in the construction of its edge beams. Where the construction of this embodiment of pallet is like that of the previously described pallet, like reference numerals will be used to signify like elements.

The pallet includes a pair of edge beams 100 which are joined together by the transversely extending end beams 36 and intermediate beams 76 to form a rectangular frame. The intermediate beams 76 are preferably of the box type and similar to the beam as previously described and shown in FIG. 11. The end beams 36 are constructed of open-faced channels having a web 38 and flanges 39 as previously described. The edge beams 100 comprise a pair of open-faced channels 102 and 104, channel 102 having relatively wide flanges 106 and channel 104 having narrow flanges 108. Channel 104 is inserted in the opening of channel 102 and the flanges 108 of channel 104 are firmly affixed to the flanges 106 of channel 102 forming a beam which is generally box shaped in cross section. Referring particularly to FIG. 13, it will be noted that both channel 102 and channel 104 open in the same direction toward the edge of the pallet. As best shown in FIG. 12, the flanges 108 of channel 104 terminate short of the end of the pallet, the web 112 continuing to the end of the pallet, and the flanges 39 of end beam 36 continue beneath the full width of the flanges 106 of the edge beams and are secured thereto. The ends of channels 102 are notched at 113 for a short distance along their length where their flanges 106 meet their web 110 to allow the flanges 39 of end beams 36 to pass. The web 110 of channel 102 is spaced from the web 112 of channel 104 by a sufficient distance to allow the passage of the tines through the opening 60 in the web 38 of the end beam and into the space between the webs 110 and 112 of the channels 102 and 104, respectively. The webs 110 and 112 of channels 102 and 104 also have openings 114 therein which are aligned with the intermediate beams 76 to allow the insertion of the tine from the edge of the pallet as previously described. The pins 84 are firmly affixed to the web 112 of channels 104 and extend through and beyond the web 38 of the end beams 36.

In its preferred form the corner stacking sockets have been omitted in this embodiment. It will be readily understood, however, that if such sockets are desired, they may be provided between various beam flanges about the pallet. lt will also be noted that, although the sockets in the faces of the pallet for handling the pallet in an upright position have not been shown, the socket arrangement shown in either F168. 8 or 9- 11 may be employed in the last-described pallet.

lt will be understood that the embodiments of the invention which have been shown in detail are illustrative only and not to be taken as a definition of the scope of the invention, reference being had for this purpose to the appended claims.

What we claim is: 1. A pallet construction for use in a lading-receiving space having spaced horizontal tracks therein, comprising a rectangular frame formed by spaced hollow edge beams connected by end crossbeams and spaced hollow intermediate beams, the edge beams having openings therein aligned with the ends of the intermediate beams to receive the tines of a forklift, pins secured to the edge beams adjacent to their ends and projecting beyond the ends of the pallet to engage tracks in a lading space and support the pallet thereon, coverings over the opposite faces of the frame defining sur faces to receive and support articles, and spaced means in the central portion of the pallet faces defining closed bottom sockets opening through the coverings to receive the tips of the tines of a forklift for handling the pallet in a vertical position.

2. The construction of claim 1 in which said spaced means are sinuous members of sheet material lying beside and secured to the intermediate beams.

3. The construction of claim 1 in which said closed bottom sockets are located between said intermediate beams and the closed bottom of said sockets are formed at least in part by a portion of said intermediate beams.

4. The construction of claim 1 in which each of the intermediate beams is formed by a pair of channel members mounted with their webs perpendicular to the coverings and with their open channels facing each other.

5. The construction of claim 1 in which the edge beams are formed at the corners of the pallet with sockets extending perpendicular to the faces ofthc pallet.

6. The construction of claim 5 in which the coverings are cut away at the corners of the pallet to leave the sockets exposed.

7. The construction of claim 1 wherein said edge beams have open ends and said end crossbeams include reinforced openings aligned with the open ends of said edge beams through which the tines can extend, and reinforcing strips around the openings in the edge beams that are aligned with the intermediate beams.

8. A pallet construction for use in a lading-receiving space having spaced horizontal tracks therein, comprising a rectangular frame formed by spaced hollow edge beams connected by end crossbeams and spaced hollow intermediate beams, the edge beams having openings therein aligned with the ends of the intermediate beams to receive the tines ofa forklift,

pins secured to the edge beams adjacent to their ends and projecting beyond the ends of the pallet to engage tracks in a lading space and support the pallet thereon,

coverings over the opposite faces of the frame defining surfaces to receive and support articles,

each of the edge beams being formed by a pair of channel strips mounted with their webs parallel to the coverings and their open channels facing each other and having a divider strip extending between the webs to divide the beam into a first hollow beam section and a second hollow section, the pins lying in the second hollow section and being secured to said divider strip.

9. The construction of claim Sin which said edge beams are open at their ends to also receive the tines of a forklift in said first hollow beam section.

10. An article of manufacture comprising,

a rectangular frame having a pair of opposed faces formed by spaced hollow edge beams connected by end crossbeams and spaced hollow intermediate beams, the edge beams having openings therein aligned with the ends of intermediate beams to receive tines of a forklift,

socket means in the faces for receiving tines ofa forklift for lifting the frame in a direction substantially parallel to its faces, the socket means having transverse portions which prevent the tines extending through the rectangular frame,

socket means in the corners of said rectangular frame for receiving pin means, and

coverings over the opposed faces of the frame defining surfaces for receiving and supporting articles thereon.

11. The article of claim 10 wherein the edge beams are open at their ends to also receive the tines of a forklift. 

1. A pallet construction for use in a lading-receiving space having spaced horizontal tracks therein, comprising a rectangular frame formed by spaced hollow edge beams connected by end crossbeams and spaced hollow intermediate beams, the edge beams having openings therein aligned with the ends of the intermediate beams to receive the tines of a forklift, pins secured to the edge beams adjacent to their ends and projecting beyond the ends of the pallet to engage tracks in a lading space and support the pallet thereon, coverings over the opposite faces of the frame defining surfaces to receive and support articles, and spaced means in the central portion of the pallet faces defining closed bottom sockets opening through the coverings to receive the tips of the tines of a forklift for handling the pallet in a vertical position.
 2. The construction of claim 1 in which said spaced means are sinuous members of sheet material lying beside and secured to the intermediate beams.
 3. The construction of claim 1 in which said closed bottom sockets are located between said intermediate beams and the closed bottom of said sockets are formed at least in part by a portion of said intermediate beams.
 4. The construction of claim 1 in which each of the intermediate beams is formed by a pair of channel members mounted with their webs perpendicular to the coverings and with their open channels facing each other.
 5. The construction of claim 1 in which the edge beams are formed at the corners of the pallet with sockets extending perpendicular to the faces of the pallet.
 6. The construction of claim 5 in which the coverings are cut away at the corners of the pallet to leave the sockets exposed.
 7. The construction of claim 1 wherein said edge beams have open ends and said end crossbeams include reinforced openings aligned with the open ends of said edge beams through which the tines can extend, and reinforcing strips around the openings in the edge beams that are aligned with the intermediate beams.
 8. A pallet construction for use in a lading-receiving space having spaced horizontal tracks therein, comprising a rectangular frame formed by spaced hollow edge beams connected by end crossbeams and spaced hollow intermediate beams, the edge beams having openings therein aligned with the ends of the intermediate beams to receive the tines of a forklift, pins secured to the edge beams adjacent to their ends and projecting beyond the ends of the pallet to engage tracks in a lading space and support the pallet thereon, coverings over the opposite faces of the frame defining surfaces to receive and support articles, each of the edge beams being formed by a pair of channel strips mounted with their webs parallel to the coverings and their open channels facing each other and having a divider strip extending between the webs to divide the beam into a first hollow beam section and a second hollow section, the pins lying in the second hollow section and being secured to said divider strip.
 9. The construction of claim 8 in which said edge beams are open at their ends to also receive the tines of a forklift in said first hollow beam section.
 10. An article of manufacture comprising, a rectangular frame having a pair of opposed faces formed by spaced hollow edge beams connected by end crossbeams and spaced hollow intermediate beams, the edge beams having openings therein aligned with the ends of intermediate beams to receive tines of a forklift, socket means in the faces for receiving tines of a forklift for lifting the frame in a direction substantially parallel to its faces, the socket means having transverse portions which prevent the tines extending through the rectangular frame, socket means in the corners of said rectangular frame for receiving pin means, and coverings over the opposed faces of the frame defining surfaces for receiving and supporting articles thereon.
 11. The article of claim 10 wherein the edge beams are open at their ends to also receive the tines of a forklift. 